FORWARD

The Urban and Public Policy Institute’s Annual Report historically focuses on the success in the fulfillment of our mission--2000- 2001. By establishing partnerships among and between government agencies, educational institutions, businesses, civic and community organizations and their leaders the Institute has continued to grow as a major element in the implementing of problem solution strategies to urban problems in South Jersey.

We have stated for several years now that by establishing partnerships between and among businesses, community organizations government entities we have been able to make the University a very viable contributor. The contributions have helped to improve the quality of life in the overall community. Through the University’s schools, the faculty and students have worked cooperatively with the Institute to design and produce programs and services for the area’s urban centers. Our Annual report serves as a reflection of the rewards/benefits of collaborations between the University and the urban community.
 
 

Dr. Leslie Norman-Harris
Project Manager
 
 

I.   Overview

Rowan University founded the Urban and Public Policy Institute (UPPI) in 1994 to address the complex issues regarding the civic, economic and social foundations of communities in Southern New Jersey.  The UPPI enables Rowan to assume a leadership role by establishing partnerships among government, education, business, civic and community organizations and their leaders with the ultimate goal of facilitating and implementing solutions to the wide-range of challenges facing communities today. The mission statement clearly establishes the course that UPPI is to follow:

“The Urban and Public Policy Institute’s mission is to serve as a vehicle through which Rowan University assumes a leadership role to address the difficult problems facing South Jersey. The Institute’s focus is on the complex issues underlying the deterioration of civic, economic and social foundations in urban areas.”

Our Regional Role

The Urban and Public Policy Institute was developed to assist the growing needs of the state of New Jersey and the Delaware Valley region.  As issues become more complex and resources become scarcer, the resources of the University along with the UPPI expertise will benefit the region.  Because urban issues are complex and interdependent, efforts to revitalize an area must be comprehensive in scope.  Understanding that the primary objective of an institution of higher education is teaching and research, it is in these very roles that our faculty and students can be involved in strategic planning that will have a direct impact on local communities.

Using the University’s network of resources, which is comprised of 9,500 students and 326 faculty members in six colleges – arts & sciences, business, communication, education, engineering and fine arts and performing arts.  The UPPI has been able to work cooperatively to design and produce programs and services, which significantly improve the quality of life for residents of Southern New Jersey.  The Institute helped to establish the University as a true partner in the community.  Furthermore, the Institute enables the University to promote dialogue regarding public policy and serve as an educator of the community and policy makers.

As competition for resources create a more competitive environment, the Institute will continue to provide technical assistance to government agencies, municipalities, quasi-government agencies, and non-profit corporation.  By establishing partnerships among government education, business, civic and community organizations, the Institute will facilitate real world solutions to the complex issues facing today’s communities.  The Institute creates an environment that allows each partner to become a stakeholder in the proposed solutions.  This creates an environment where the Institute initiates discussion of society’s pressing needs.  Once they are identified, the organizations in the partnership have a personal commitment to finding solutions.

II.   Summary of Goal Achievement Activities 2000-2001

The Institute has begun each year of operations with a strategic plan. The planning takes into account the successes and failures of the previous year and attempts to chart a productive, sound course for the year to come. This report presents a summary of the goals and projected activities, which were developed in the planning sessions. Also, the accomplishments that resulted and the future planning steps to be taken are a component of the following discussion.

 Goal 1 – To continue partnership, outreach and direct service activities in Camden City, the southern New Jersey region and statewide.  The Institute will provide technical assistance and/or operating support focused on economic development, community revitalization and management improvement to organizations.

Activities and Accomplishments:

Camden City

•  Implementation of year two program of COPC
• Urban Revitalization – over $900k in grants and technical assistance provided to 15-community development organizations
• Families and Children Early Education Services – over 130 families served, research on achievement levels continued
• Community Health Workers – the second cohort of 17 students completed the training and were placed in jobs
• Economic development – provided process consultation resulting in a proposed relocation plan for Terrace residents impacted by St. Lawrence
• Cement Plant facility operations.
• Participation on Camden City Healthy Futures Planning Committee

•  Convened Camden advisory committee for the Color Line Project
•  Chaired Management Committee of CAMConnect (information warehouse) and provided operational support
•  Served as resource to Mayor’s monthly meetings on recovery legislation
•  Participated in information technology task force convened by Dean Clark
•  Served as advisor to The City of Camden Master Plan Community Advisory Committee
•  Provided technical assistance to the Institute for the Development Education through the Arts

• Provided technical assistance to Glassboro advisory committee for the Color Line Project

•  Provided Technical assistance in preparation of the successful GEDC cyber-district planning grant application

•  Appointed to the Gloucester Work Force Investment County Youth Services Council

Regional

•  Provided consultation services to Brookdale Community College Office of Urban Services

•  Provided consultant services to Atlantic City Vision 2000  (minority business development)

•  Provided advisory services to the Cumberland Empowerment Zone (community participation and grant writing)

Statewide

•  Provided technical assistance to the NJ Minority Disabilities Coalition

•  Provided consultation services to the New Jersey Fair Representation Project (legislative redistricting)

•  Provided advisory services to the NJ Housing and Community Development Network of NJ Community     Building Project

•  Provided advisory services to the Coalition for Our Children’s Schools

 Goal 2 – To enhance the civic engagement through research, presentations, publications and seminars focusing on public policy development and analysis.
 
 

Activities and Accomplishment

• TNJ Black and Latino Legislative Caucus August 27, 2000 (presentation on legislative redistricting)  
• Office of University Partnerships COPC National Conference, September 20 – 23, 2000 (presenter- civic engagement
•  CAM Connect Stakeholder Workshop, September 2000, (facilitation/presenter)
  
  
•  New Jersey Black Issues Convention, September 28 – October 1, 2000 (moderator on legislative redistricting)
  
•  Minority Health Conference Union and Somerset Counties, October 18, 2000 (facilitation/presenter)
  
•  Television Appearance, TV Fox Philadelphia "NJ Senate Race" October 31, 2000 (panelist)
  
•  Rowan University UPPI/COPC Stakeholders Meeting, November 16, 2000 (sponsor/facilitator- community development and information technology) 
•  Color Line Project – Camden Story Circles, August, October, November, December and February (co-sponsor/facilitator)
  
•  Camden Development Collaborative Annual Event, November 29, 2000 (/co-sponsor/facilitator)
  
•  Office of University Partnerships COPC New Grantee Orientation, December 2000 (presenter)
  
•  Camden City Federal and Local Grants Seminar, December 6, 2000 (co-sponsor/facilitator/presenter)
  
•  CAMConnect Stakeholder Workshop, December 14, 2000 (facilitator)
  
•  Redistricting Workshop, December 18, 2000 (presenter)
  
•   Empowerment Summit IV – Diversity, Camden site, in January 11 – 12, 2001 (co-sponsor/facilitator/presenter)
  
  
•  Color Line Project Comcast Interview re: Color Lone Project, January 22, 2001, Woodbury, NJ (panelist)
  
  
• Camden Master Plan Taskforce, January 24, 2001, Camden, NJ (discussant)
  
  
• Color Line Project Story Circle, Lawnside, NJ (facilitator)
  
  
• Annie E. Casey Foundation Making Connections Conference, February 5 – 9, 2001, Baltimore, MD (discussant)
  
  
• Grant Writing Seminar, February 16, 2001, Rutgers University – Camden, NJ (presenter)
  
  
• Smart Growth Seminar, February 23, 2001, Bloustein School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (moderator/presenter)  
• Community Arts African American History Month Program, February, Cape May  (presenter-Urban Renewal)
  
  
• Leadership New Jersey Seminar, March 14, 2001, Camden, NJ (presenter- Making Connections)
  
  
• Annie E. Casey Foundation Making Connections Conference, March 28 – 30, 2001, Baltimore, MD (discussion participant)
  
  
•  American Association for Public Administration National Conference, April 2001,Newark (presenter- Camden revitalization)
  
  
• Color Line Project Residency Week, April 3 – 8, 2001 (co-sponsor)
  
  
• Office of University Partnerships COPC National Conference, April 18 – 21, 2001, Denver, CO (presenter, discussant)
  
  
• African Diaspora Forum, April 28, 2001, Glassboro, NJ (co-sponsor/facilitator)
  
  
• Urban Mayor’s Summit, April 24, 2001, Camden, NJ (facilitator)
  
  
• Rowan University UPPI/COPC Stakeholder Meeting, May 16, 2001, Camden, NJ (co-sponsor/facilitator - civic engagement and urban revitalization)
  
  
• CAMConnect Retreat, June 27 – 28, 2001, Rutgers University – Camden, NJ (presenter)
  
  
• Rowan University UPPI/COPC is profiled in the Office of University Partnership CD-ROM,  "Building Partnerships-Building Futures"
  
  
• Family and Children Early Education Services (F.A.C.E.S.) published COPC funded monograph, Through
• Collaboration Developmentally Appropriate Practice Children Will Prosper, October 1, 2001

 Goal 3 – To promote the development of a community of learners focused on urban and public policy.  Activities will include student internships, faculty externships, faculty associates and support for course development.

Activities and Accomplishments:

Twelve students participated as interns or project assistants in the year two-program activity of the UPPI/COPC:

Eight faculty associates participated in year two program activity of the UPPI/COPC – Hapte Gorgis (International Plaza Feasibility Study), Scott Miller, Camden City GIS Project, (COPC National Conference paper presentation), Jahan Caswel (Stakeholders Workshop, l Smith (Stakeholders Workshop), Okorodudu Hamer (Stakeholders Workshop) (St. Lawrence Cement Economic Impact Study

Eleven students enrolled in Introduction to Public Administration (fall 2000- instructed by Harris) completed field assignments and research papers related to Camden City revitalization.

 Over 200 people participated in 15 Color Line Project Story Circle activities           conducted in Camden, Glassboro and Lawnside.

Twelve students enrolled in the course, Strategies and Tactics of Planned Community Change (Spring 2001, Miller, Sociology) co-sponsored by UPPI/COPC and the Center for Service Learning and Voluntarism.

 Goal 4 – To increase the application of technology in Institute research and outreach activities.

Activities and Accomplishments:

 UPPI created a mini-computer lab for use of interns and project assistants
 Upgraded and maintained UPPI web page
 Utilized video conferencing to link four sights of Diversity Summit IV
 Completed the phase one design of the CAMConnect on line information warehouse

 Goal 5 – To develop additional sources of funding to support the general operations and programs of the Institute.

Activities and Accomplishments:

The activities for the year focused on building opportunities for increased funding through forging new relationships:

 Member, VP for Finance and Administration Search Committee
 Convener of the Institute Directors
 Advisor to Rowan University NAACP Chapter
 Member, Center for Service Learning and Volunteerism
 Vice Chair, Rowan Black Coalition
 Member, Management Institute Advisory Board

III. Fiscal Resources

Over the course of the last year $292,000 in grants was secured from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to support the planning and first year operation of the CAM Connect project. This is the first grant to Rowan University from this foundation.

UPPI generated  $42,000 in grant and fee income Submitted applications for grants or sub-grants totaling $250,000 which are pending (Fund for NJ. USDOT, USDOE, USDJ)
 

IV. The Future of UPPI

The future of the Urban & Public Policy Institute is vast and exciting, with new opportunities for growth everyday.  As this institute continues under the leadership of Jerome C. Harris, this organization will continue to strive and assist different communities assess and solve their various issues in local government, neighborhood revitalization, economic development and other concerns.  The institute will call upon community leaders to step up to the plate and deliver to the community that they serve.  The institute will act as a catalyst in helping these communities develop and deliver services for their residents.

The Urban & Public Policy Institute will continue to be an asset at Rowan University through its community relationships and collaborations with various communities across the State of New Jersey.  The Urban & Public Policy Institute through its acquired grants and subsidies will be able to continue its efforts in revitalizing communities and creating opportunities for partnerships to be formed and information exchanged through various avenues, including websites, seminars, roundtables and newsletters.  With the continued support of community leaders and the university, the Urban & Public Policy Institute is destined for more great achievements.

Goals 2001-2002

The goals for the future are very straightforward—continue the tasks as originally designed with an eye on expanding the breadth of our services:

• To conduct partnership, outreach and direct service activities in Camden City, the southern New Jersey region and statewide.   The institute will provide technical assistance and/or operating support focused on economic development, community revitalization and management improvement to organizations.
   
  
• To develop additional sources of funding to support the general operations and programs of the Institute.
   
  
• To promote the development of a community of learners focused on urban and public policy.  Activities will include student internships, faculty externships, faculty associates and support for course development.
  
  
• To increase the application of technology in Institute research and outreach activities.
  
  
• To enhance the civic capacity in the southern New Jersey region through research, presentations, publications and seminars focusing on public policy development and analysis.